Factors shaping spectators’ consumption patterns: controversial arisings from an international sport tourism event
Consumer Behavior in Tourism and Hospitality
ISSN: 2752-6666
Article publication date: 21 December 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Sport events’ contribution to the destinations’ local economy implies in-depth knowledge of the economic benefits generated by non-resident spectators (NRS). Thus, this study aims to answer: What is the profile and shaping factors of the consumption patterns of the several types of NRS in international surf tourism events?
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 263 questionnaires applied to the NRS of an international surf event were collected and analysed. The identification of the NRS profile and the predictive factors of their total expenditure were performed through the correlation of factors and multiple linear regression, respectively.
Findings
Mostly, the event attracted generation Y NRS, with a high level of education and regular sport practice. The results showed differences among the NRS: the “casuals” included more women than men; the “extensioners” integrated the NRS whose surfing practice is higher; the “event visitors”/”time switchers” mostly integrated the domestic tourism flows; the “casuals” and “extensioners” spent the most at the destination, and those whose intention to recommend/revisit the destination, respectively, was higher; and the shaping factor that most influenced the increase in NRS expenditure was the overnight stay, added by older age, higher education level and foreign origin.
Originality/value
Regardless of the initial motivation that led to the trip to the destination, the results verified that the event’s attributes are capable of contributing to the recommendation/visitation of the destination. Consequently, the study of economic benefits (tangible and intangible) provided by sport events in destinations should be guided by an integrative analysis of NRS.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by National Funds provided by FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology under the project UIDB/04020/2020.
Declaration of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funding sponsor had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; and in the decision to publish the results.
Citation
Mascarenhas, M., Vieira, H. and Martins, R. (2023), "Factors shaping spectators’ consumption patterns: controversial arisings from an international sport tourism event", Consumer Behavior in Tourism and Hospitality, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/CBTH-08-2023-0108
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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